Power-saving electronic watch and method for operating electronic watch

Abstract

When the stem of an electronic watch such as one using a quartz oscillator circuit is pulled out, a switch operates so that the hands stop while the oscillation continues, thereby reducing the current consumption. The watch may be stored in this condition and, to achieve an even further power savings, a counting circuit is provided counts and, when a given amount of time has elapsed after the stem is pulled out, a signal is output, so as to stop both oscillation and frequency dividing. Additionally, a pull-down resistance connected to the switch is made by two transistors having a large and a small resistance values, with the above-noted signal being used to cause conduction through only the transistor with the large resistance value when in the power-saving condition, so that current in that part is small. Alternately, a circuit is provided for storage while in the power-saving condition, in which the transistor of the pull-down resistance is made non-conducting, so that current does not flow, with the switch being provided with a center contact that, when the stem is pushed in, operates so as to erase the memory and to cause the transistor to conduct, thereby resulting in a return to normal operation.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. In an electronic watch comprising a power supply, an oscillator circuit, a frequency dividing circuit, and a drive circuit, a power-saving electronic watch comprising an externally operable switch and a counting circuit that counts a prescribed time, wherein after said switch goes into an ON condition and after a prescribed amount of time elapses, the configuration is such that a supply of electrical power at least to said oscillator circuit is stopped so as to stop operation of said oscillator circuit, and further wherein a low-resistance switching element and a high-resistance switching element are connected in parallel to an ON contact of said switch, with said counting circuit controlling said low-resistance switching element. 
     
     
       2. In an electronic watch comprising a power supply, an oscillator circuit, a frequency dividing circuit, and a drive circuit, a power-saving electronic watch comprising an externally operable switch and a counting circuit that counts a prescribed time, wherein after said switch goes into an ON condition and after a prescribed amount of time elapses, the configuration is such that a supply of electrical power at least to said oscillator circuit is stopped so as to stop operation of said oscillator circuit, and further wherein a switching element is connected to an ON contact of said switch, a center contact being provided between said ON contact of said switch and an off position of said switch, with said center contact controlling said switching element at said ON contact. 
     
     
       3. In an electronic watch comprising a power supply, an oscillator circuit, a frequency dividing circuit, and a drive circuit, a power-saving electronic watch comprising an externally operable switch and a counting circuit that counts a prescribed time, wherein after said switch goes into an ON condition and after a prescribed amount of time elapses, the configuration is such that a supply of electrical power at least to said oscillator circuit is stopped so as to stop operation of said oscillator circuit, and further wherein a switching element is connected to an ON contact of said switch, a switching element being connected also to an OFF contact of said switch, with signals of said counting circuit, said ON contact, and said OFF contact controlling said switching element at said ON contact and said switching element at said OFF contact. 
     
     
       4. In an electronic watch comprising a power supply, an oscillator circuit, a frequency dividing circuit, and a drive circuit, a power-saving electronic watch comprising an externally operable switch and a counting circuit that counts a prescribed time, wherein after said switch goes into an ON condition and after a prescribed amount of time elapses, a feedback resistance of said oscillator circuit is opened, and an input potential of said oscillator circuit is fixed so as to stop operation of said oscillator circuit. 
     
     
       5. A power-saving electronic watch according to  claim 4 , wherein a low-resistance switching element and a high-resistance switching element are connected in parallel to an ON contact of said switch, and wherein said counting circuit controls said low-resistance switching element. 
     
     
       6. A power-saving electronic watch according to  claim 4 , wherein a switching element is connected to an ON contact of said switch, and wherein a center contact is provided between said ON contact and off position of said switch, said center contact controlling said switching element at said ON contact. 
     
     
       7. A power-saving electronic watch according to  claim 4 , wherein a switching element is connected to an ON contact of said switch, and wherein a switching element is connected also to an OFF contact of said switch, with said signal of said ON contact, said OFF contact and said counting circuit controlling said switching element at said ON contact and said switching element at OFF contact. 
     
     
       8. A power-saving watch according to any one of  claims 1  to  4  or any one of  claims 5  to  7 , wherein said switch is a reset switch that operates by operation of a stem of said watch. 
     
     
       9. A power-saving electronic watch according to any one of claims  1 - 4  and  5 - 7 , wherein said electronic watch is a rechargeable type. 
     
     
       10. A power-saving electronic watch according to any one of  claim 4  and  claims 5  to  7 , wherein said oscillator circuit is driven by a regulated voltage power supply, and wherein when said oscillator circuit is stopped, said regulated voltage power supply outputs a power supply voltage. 
     
     
       11. A method for operating an electronic watch comprising a power supply, an oscillator circuit, a frequency dividing circuit, and a drive circuit, with said electronic watch further comprising an externally operable switch and a counting circuit that counts a prescribed time, wherein after said externally operable switch goes into an ON condition and after a prescribed amount of time elapses, the configuration is such that at least said oscillator circuit is stopped, and further wherein a low-resistance switching element and a high-resistance switching element are caused to be connected in parallel to an ON contact of said switch, and said low-resistance switching element is controlled by said counting circuit. 
     
     
       12. A method for operating an electronic watch according to  claim 11 , wherein said high-resistance switching element is configured so as to be constantly in a conductive condition. 
     
     
       13. A method for operating an electronic watch according to  claim 8 ,  11  or  12 , wherein said electronic watch comprising a power supply, an oscillator circuit, a frequency dividing circuit, and a drive circuit, with said electronic watch further comprising an externally operable switch and a counting circuit that counts a prescribed time, wherein after said externally operable switch goes into an ON condition and after a prescribed amount of time elapses, the configuration is such that at least said oscillator circuit is stopped, and wherein a switching element is connected to an ON contact of said switch, while a center contact being provided between said ON contact of said switch and said off position of said switch, and further wherein when said a switching piece of said switch moves between ON and OFF contacts, it makes contact with said center contact of said switch, with contact of said switching piece with said center contact controlling said switching element at ON contact. 
     
     
       14. A method for operating an electronic watch comprising a power supply, an oscillator circuit, a frequency dividing circuit, and a drive circuit, and said electronic watch comprising an externally operable switch and a counting circuit that counts a prescribed time, wherein after said externally operable switch goes into an ON condition and after a prescribed amount of time elapses, the configuration is such that at least said oscillator circuit is stopped, and a switching element is connected to an ON contact of said switch and a switching element is connected as well to an OFF contact of said switch, and wherein signals of said counting circuit, said ON contact, and said OFF contact control said ON contact switching element and said OFF contact switching element. 
     
     
       15. A method for operating an electronic watch comprising a power supply, an oscillator circuit, a frequency dividing circuit, and a drive circuit, said electronic watch comprising an externally operable switch and a counting circuit that counts a prescribed time, wherein after said externally operable switch goes into an ON condition and after a prescribed amount of time elapses, the configuration is such that feedback resistance of said oscillator circuit is opened, and an input potential to said oscillator circuit is fixed, thereby stopping operation of said oscillator circuit. 
     
     
       16. A method for operating an electronic watch according to any one of claims  11 ,  12 ,  14  and  15 , wherein said switch is a reset switch operated by operation of a stem of said watch. 
     
     
       17. A method for operating an electronic watch according to any one of claims  11 ,  12 ,  14  and  15 , wherein said electronic watch is a rechargeable type. 
     
     
       18. A method for operating an electronic watch according to any one of claims  11 ,  12 ,  14  and  15 , wherein said oscillator circuit is driven by a regulated voltage power supply, and wherein when said oscillator circuit is stopped, said regulated voltage power supply outputs a power supply voltage.